IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - January/February 2014 - 112

in my view

Massoud Amin

a smart self-healing grid
in pursuit of a more reliable and resilient system

AS THE WORLD GROWS MORE
interconnected, we are becoming surrounded by complex interactive networks/systems (CIN/S). These systems
consist of numerous components interlinked in complicated webs. As a result
of the number of components and their
intricate interconnections, CIN/S are
extremely difficult to design, analyze,
control, and protect. Despite these challenges, understanding and managing
CIN/S is becoming critical. Many of our
nation's critical infrastructures are complex interdependent/networked dynamical system of systems, including:
✔ electric power grids with overlays of sensor/communications/
control systems and markets
✔ fuel supply networks and energy/
oil/gas pipelines
✔ telecommunications and satellite
systems
✔ the Internet, computer networks,
and the "cyberinfrastructure"
✔ transportation systems
✔ energy markets, banking and
finance systems
✔ environmental, consumer, societal and policy macrosystems
✔ state and local water supply,
emergency, and other services.
The secure, reliable operation of
complex, increasingly interdependent,
infrastructure systems such as these is
fundamental to our economy, security,
and quality of life. Of particular importance is the uninterrupted availability
of inexpensive, high-quality electrical
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MPE.2013.2284646
Date of publication: 17 December 2013

112

ieee power & energy magazine

power and reliable, high-performance
communication networks.
The potential for preventing rare
events but high-impact cascading phenomena represent just a few of many
new science and technology concepts
that are under development. Analysis
and modeling of interdependent infrastructures (e.g., the electric power grid,
together with protection systems, telecommunications, oil/gas pipelines, and
energy markets) is especially pertinent.

What's Needed to
Speed Up Restoration?
Since Hurricane Sandy struck the East
Coast with unprecedented fury, much
discussion has focused on questions
about power restoration: Did the smart
grid help? Or, would a smart grid have
helped?
The questions are valid but the short
answer is unsatisfying: it depends. A
longer answer is more helpful because
it allows us to consider the drivers of
grid modernization, the concepts governing a "self-healing" grid, and how
we can maximize the benefits of future
investments.
Detailed, post-event analysis will be
needed to ascertain whether smart grid
technology softened Sandy's impact or
sped up power restoration. Meanwhile,
let's place the storm and its impacts in
context.
1) It should be understood that a
massive, physical assault on the
scale of last October's superstorm
is bound to overwhelm the power
infrastructure, at least temporarily. No amount of money or
1540-7977/14/$31.00©2014IEEE

technology can guarantee uninterrupted electric service under
such circumstances.
2) The power industry in the United
States is just beginning to adapt to
a wider spectrum of risk. Both the
number and frequency of annual,
weather-caused, major outages
have increased since the 1950s.
Between the 1950s and 1980s,
there were two to five such outages
per year. In the period 2008-2012,
those outages increased to between
70 and 130 per year. In that fiveyear period, weather-related outages accounted for 66% of power
disruptions, which affected up to
178 million customers (meters).
This adaptation process continues as we implement strategies,
technologies, and practices that
will harden the grid and improve
restoration performance after a
physical disturbance. The investments so far in advanced metering infrastructure and the coming
wave of investment in distribution
automation are but the beginning
of a multidecade, multibilliondollar effort to achieve an end-toend, intelligent, secure, resilient
and self-healing system.
3) Cost-effective investments to
harden the grid and support resilience will vary by region, by
utility, by the legacy equipment
involved, and even by the function and location of equipment
within a utility's service territory.
(continued on p. 108)
january/february 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - January/February 2014